The honor guard from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, along with officers from other agencies across Southern California, escorts the body of San Bernardino sheriff’s Deputy Lawrence “Larry” Falce from the hospital to the coroner’s office following his death Tuesday night, Jan. 2. Falce, 70, of San Bernardino, suffered fatal injuries in an assault following a car crash while he was off duty Sunday morning. (Staff photo by Rick Sforza, The Sun/SCNG)

Two days earlier, on New Year’s Eve morning, Falce was punched by someone he’d been in a car crash with while off-duty. Falce, 70, had been with the Sheriff’s Department for 36 years, including 32 on patrol out of the Central Station in his hometown of San Bernardino.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Lawrence “Larry” Falce. (Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department)

By Tuesday, Falce was in grave condition, and around midday the Sheriff’s Department began planning for the worst, Sgt. Marc Bracco said. Falce was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m.

Dozens of law enforcement officers from across Southern California soon arrived at Loma Linda University Medical Center to escort his body to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office a few miles away.

“One of the most difficult things we must do as law enforcement officers is say goodbye to one of our own,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tweeted. “Rest easy brother, we’ll take it from here.”

Uniformed members of the sheriff’s honor guard carried Falce’s flag-draped body out of the hospital. Among those saluting as he passed were orange-clad members of the department’s search and rescue team, which Falce had worked on into his 60s.

At the other end of the procession, two San Bernardino County Fire Department ladder trucks hoisted a giant American flag over the entrance to the Coroner’s Office on Lena Road.

Firefighters saluted as the procession passed underneath, and bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” as Falce’s body was unloaded from the transport van. The honor guard carried him past another column of crisply saluting police officers inside the building, where an autopsy will be performed.

Two members of the honor guard will remain with Falce’s body until funeral services are held, Cpl. Ruben Perez said. No date has been announced.

Brian Rokos writes about public safety issues such as policing, criminal justice, scams, how law affects public safety, firefighting tactics and wildland fire danger. He has also covered the cities of San Bernardino, Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Canyon Lake and Hemet. Before that he supervised reporters and worked as a copy editor. For some reason, he enjoys movies where the Earth is threatened with extinction.